The assault charge laid against Carleton Place Councillor Doug Black has been dropped as the Councillor has agreed to enter a diversion program.

After a judicial pre-trial at the provincial courthouse in Perth on Tuesday, May 15th, Black released the following statement:

To the Mayor, Councillors, Town Staff and Residents of Carleton Place, I have accepted and entered into a Diversion program for my actions with the Mayor on February 2, 2018.

I apologize and take full responsibility for my part in what transpired.

Diversion is a program to move a charge out of the formal criminal justice stream.

There is no guilty plea, no criminal conviction and no criminal record. The preconditions for this diversion have been met, the charges have been withdrawn. I am relieved to put this unfortunate incident and unwanted publicity behind myself and our town. Going forward I will continue to work with council to serve and represent the residents of Carleton Place to the best of my ability.”

Sincerely,Doug Black

Black was charged following an investigation by the Lanark County OPP into an alleged altercation with Mayor Louis Antonakos at Carleton Place Town Hall.

Diversion programs allow the accused to take some responsibility for his or her actions while avoiding any admittance of guilt.

Black is a popular Councillor in Carleton Place having served four terms beginning in 1980, 1982, 2010 and 2014. In the 2014 election he received more votes than any other Councillor to be elected.